No one expected a CEO’s unusual burger bite to ignite a fast-food feud, but that is exactly what appears to be happening recently. A&W Canada has released a parody video taking direct aim at McDonald’s Illinois-based CEO, Chris Kempczinski, and online observers are calling it the boldest move yet in the escalating burger-CEO showdown.
A&W released a parody video on social media starring longtime pitchman Allen Lulu, and the brand clearly paid attention to every detail. Lulu appeared in a blue shirt and sweater that looked strikingly similar to the outfit Kempczinski wore in his original clip. He then picked up an A&W Teen Burger and launched into a hilariously bland, corporate-style review. He referred to it as a “burger product” and described the lettuce simply as “green.” The highlight came when Lulu took a big, confident bite, held the burger up to the camera, and closed by inviting the McDonald’s CEO to lunch. “See you at lunch, Chris,” he said with a grin.
It all began when McDonald’s CEO posted a video from his office in Illinois promoting the chain’s new Big Arch burger. He called it a “product,” awkwardly struggled to figure out how to hold it, and then took what many online viewers agreed was one of the smallest, saddest bites ever captured on camera.
The video went viral almost immediately. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the fast-food world quickly joined in. Burger King’s president responded first, taking a huge, confident bite of a Whopper as if he had been waiting for the moment. Wendy’s Ohio president followed with his own video, highlighting the chain’s fresh, never-frozen beef. Now, A&W Canada has entered the conversation as well.
Social media users couldn’t get enough of the exchange. Commenters flooded the posts, calling it the best corporate clapback of the week. Some even argued that A&W accomplished what Burger King and Wendy’s had not: it actually made the joke land. And as more fast-food chains join the pile-on, McDonald’s continues to take the heat.
The Internet Cheered A&W’s CEO for Making McDonalds’ Illinois CEO Look Like a Clown
The video quickly sparked amusing reactions online, and many viewers praised Lulu’s performance and energy, which made him one of the most popular fast-food chain CEOs among consumers.
“I gotta say, I know this is getting old, but he so far has been the most enthusiastic.”
“The first time I saw the McDonald’s commercial, I legitimately thought they may have tried to make it so bad that it would go viral. I still have no idea if it was intentional or not.”
“This wins. A&W rules.”
What began in Illinois as a straightforward sandwich promo has now taken on a life of its own. Somehow, a routine burger launch turned into the week’s most entertaining corporate drama, with one chain after another lining up to take a shot. A&W may have delivered the sharpest response yet, armed with nothing more than a Teen Burger and an invitation to lunch.
